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CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
NRI or Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2020: Observed on January 09
- Every year, January 9 is celebrated as the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of the nation.
- The day commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to Mumbai on 9 January 1915.
- The themeof 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2021 is “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS
I&B Minister launches Diary App
- Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar launched the Government’s Digital Calendar and Diary App in New Delhi.
- Mr Javadekar said, paperless governance has come to offices and files are now moving as e-files.
- The digital calendar inaugurated and available in Hindi and English, but it will be available in 11 languages from 15th January 2021.
- He said, the calendar has a theme for every month and it will also have all information of 100 revolutionary programmes of the government.
- The GOI Calendar and the Diary App is available for download on both Google Play store and iOS App Store.
- The app has been designed and developed by the Bureau of Outreach and Communication, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- The app will do away with the need for a new calendar every year.
World’s largest repatriation exercise Vande Bharat Mission made operational
- The World’s largest repatriation exercise Vande Bharat Mission has brought back more than 7 lakh people since May 2020.
- The Phase-9 of Vande Bharat Mission has been made operational from 1st January and 1,495 international flights have been scheduled which will be operated from 24 countries.
- Ministry of External Affairs Spokesman Anurag Srivastava said, it will facilitate the return of 2.8 lakh people.
- He announced 261 of these flights have been operated and facilitated the return of 49 thousand people from 19 countries.
NIXI provides free Domain in any Indian languages
- The National Internet Exchange of India, NIXI has announced that it will offer a free Internationalized Domain Name, IDN in any of the preferred 22 official Indian language along with every IN domain booked by the registrant.
- Applicant will also get a free email in local language.
- This offer has been created to stimulate the adoption of IDN domain name and proliferation of local language content.
- This offer is valid for new .in users who register up to 31st of January.
- This offer is also extended to those existing in users who renew their domain in the month of January 2021.
Centre merges J&K cadre officers with AGMUT
- In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Central govt. has merged J&K cadre for all India Services – IAS, IPS and IFS officers with that of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT), also called the Union Territory cadre, through an ordinance.
- It says officers “so borne or allocated” on AGMUT cadre shall function in accordance with rules framed by the Centre.
- Sub-Section (2) of Section 88 of the Act stated that members of IAS, IPS and IFS cadres “for the existing State of Jammu and Kashmir, on and from the appointed day, shall continue to function on the existing cadres.”
- The ordinance has also made an addition in Section 13, inserting the words “or any other article containing reference to elected members of the Legislative Assembly of the State” after “in Article 239A”.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Pakistan Successfully Test Fires Indigenously Developed Rocket System : Fatah-1
- On Jan 08, 2021, The Pakistan Army successfully conducted the test flight of an indigenously developed Guided Multi Launch Rocket System, Fatah-1.
- The Fatah-1 weapon system can hit targets up to a range of 140 km.
- The Weapon System will give Pakistan Army capability of precision target engagement deep in enemy territory.
About Pakistan:
- President : Arif Alvi
- Prime Minister : Imran Khan
- Capital : Islamabad
- Currency : Pakistani rupee
French President Advisor meets PM Modi
- Emmanuel Bonne, the Diplomatic Advisor to the French President, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed wide-ranging bilateral as well as global issues.
- On a visit to India for the annual strategic dialogue between Paris and New Delhi, the diplomatic advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron had held talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
- The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction on the progress both countries have made on key aspects of the India-France Strategic Partnership, including counter-terrorism, cyber-security, defence and strategic cooperation.
About France:
- Capital:Paris
- President:Emmanuel Macron
- Currency: Euro
CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS
Gujarat CM announces to create new Bagasara Prant in Amreli district
- Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has decided to create a new Bagasara Prant in Amreli district.
- This will take the state’s revenue services nearer to the people and provide services faster.
- The newly created Bagasara Prant would come into effect on 26th January, which includes Bagasara and Vadiya talukas in it.
- Since the districts with larger geographical areas cause inconvenience to the people, the state government has been reorganizing smaller districts and talukas for administrative convenience, faster development, reducing workload as well as saving the people’s time.
- Now, the state government has taken up the reorganization of Prants.
About Gujarat:
- Capital:Gandhinagar
- Governor: Acharya Devvrat
- Chief minister: Vijay Rupani
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING & ECONOMY
Indian economy to rebound with 8.9% growth in FY22: IHS Markit
- Indian economy to rebound with an9 percent growth in the fiscal year beginning April 2021 after economic activity showed significant improvement in the last quarter, IHS Markit.
- During the fourth quarter of 2020, India’s industrial production and consumption expenditure have shown a rebound.
- Previously The National Statistical Organisation (NSO) predicted that the economy will contract 7.7 percent in the current financial year ending in March, the worst performance in four decades.
About IHS Markit :
- CEO : Lance Uggla
- Headquarters : London, United Kingdom
- Founded : 1959
Government says ‘Banks will need recapitalisation’
- As India prepares for the crucial Union Budget, which would set course for economic pick-up after the Covid carnage, economists have asked the government to be generous with the fiscal measures and have warned of weakness in the financial sector which could be a problem spot in the upcoming financial year.
- A group of leading economists, in their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government should further recapitalize banks, push for divestment and the focus should be on promoting growth.
- However, it should be “generous” with recapitalization plans for banks which are “under strain”.
Formation of ‘Kerala Bank a major achievement’-CM
- Formation of Kerala Bank as a major event in the cooperative sector.
- “The emergence of a cooperative scheduled bank, currently the second largest in the state, is of immense importance to the development of the state.
- While KIIFB finances largescale infrastructure development, the Kerala Bank will focus on financing entrepreneurs in agro processing industries and other MSME sectors”.
- The bank is also engaged in entrepreneurship development.
- A total of 30 programmes were launched by industrial promotion agencies and Kerala Bank.
- This is in addition to the Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Development Programme.
- The scheme has set a target of financing 1,000 units annually totalling up to 5,000 units in the next five years.
- The total fund requirement for providing loans under the programme is Rs 1,500 crore, which would be raised by Kerala Financial Corporation.
About Kerala:
- Capital:Thiruvananthapuram
- Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan
- Chief minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMITS & CONFERENCES
Union Education Minister inaugurates two-day Virtual International Akhand Conference ‘EDUCON-2020’
- Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurated the two-day Virtual International Akhand Conference ‘EDUCON 2020’ through video conferencing.
- This two-day International Conference is being organized by Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) in collaboration with the Global Educational Research Association (GERA).
- The focal theme of EDUCON-2020 is Envisioning Education for Transforming Youth to Restore Global Peace.
- This two-day Akhand Conference will pass on the message to the researchers and students across the globe that the research is a 24X7 exercise and requires strong perseverance.
- In this International Conference, scholars from the United Kingdom, Canada, Thailand, USA, Australia, Bhutan and India Participated.
CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS
Indian-American Raj Iyer becomes US Army’s first Chief Information Officer
- Indian-American Dr Raj Iyer has taken over as the first Chief Information Officer of the US Army, after the Pentagon created the position in July 2020.
About Raj Iyer :
- Currently Iyer serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Army.
- Iyer will direct the execution of policies and programmes to modernise the US Army to achieve digital overmatch against near peer adversaries such as China and Russia.
- Iyer will supervise an annual budget of USD 16 billion for the US Army’s IT operations and over 15,000 civilians and military personnel in over 100 countries.
JK Maheshwari Sworn In As Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court
- Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court.
- Governor Ganga Prasad administered the oath of office to Justice Maheshwari during a function held in Raj Bhavan.
- Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, his ministerial colleagues, members of the bar and bench of the high court and senior officials attended the event.
- Justice Maheshwari was the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
- He has served in Madhya Pradesh High Court till September 2019 and was transferred and elevated to Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court till last month.
About Sikkim :
- Chief Minister : PS Golay
- Governor : Ganga Prasad
- Capital : Gangtok
Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia appointed Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court
- The Central government has cleared the appointment of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as the next Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
- Chief Justice Dhulia takes over from Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, who was appointed Acting Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, following the retirement of the then Chief Justice Ajai Lamba on September 21, last year.
- Justice Dhulia was serving as a judge of the Uttarakhand High Court when he was recommended to be appointed the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
- Justice Dhulia completed LLB in the year 1986 and initially practiced before the Allahabad High Court, before he shifted to the newly created High Court of Uttarakhand. He was appointed judge of Uttarakhand High Court in 2008.
About Assam :
- Chief Minister : Sarbananda Sonowal
- Governor : Jagdish Mukhi
Subodh Jaiswal Appointed as DG of CISF
- Former DGP of Maharashtra Subodh Kumar Jaiswal has taken over the charge as the new Director General (DG) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
- Jaiswal is set to retire from service in September, 2022.
- He is the 28th Director General of CISF.
- Maharashtra DGP Hemant Nagrale (left) takes charge from outgoing DGP Subodh Jaiswal.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS & AUTHORS
RBI officer Giridharan pens novel ‘Right Under our Nose’
- A general manager at RBI, R Giridharan has authored his debut book ”Right Under our Nose.
- In “Right Under Your Nose”, a murderer eliminates scientists right under the nose of the police and leaves forensics baffled. In response, the chief minister calls upon Vijay, who is given an impossible deadline to solve the case before Parliament resumes in a week.
- The book has been published by Rupa Publications.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU
LAHDC Kargil sign MoU to Kargil Lower Plateau
- In a historic development, an MoU was signed between the LAHDC Kargil and the Army to evacuate the Kargil Lower Plateau.
- The MoU was signed between the Deputy Commissioner and CEO,LAHDC, Kargil Baseer ul Haq Choudhary on behalf of the LAHDC, Kargil and Brigade Commander, 121 Infantry Division Brigadier Vivek Bakshi on behalf of the Army in presence of the Chairman and Chief Executive Councilor, LAHDC, Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan and the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Mountain Division Major General Praveen Kumar Airy, AVSM.
- As per the MoU, substitute land shall be provided to the Army near Maratha Unit Kurbathang and Mulbekh area.
IREDA signs MoU with NHPC
- Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited, IREDA under administrative control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NHPC Limited, the PSU under Ministry of Power for providing its technical expertise in developing renewable energy projects.
- Under the MoU, IREDA will undertake Techno-Financial due diligence of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and conservation projects for NHPC.
- IREDA will assist NHPC in developing an action plan to create and acquire Renewable Energy projects for the next five years.
- The MoU was signed through virtual mode by Chairman-cum-Managing Director, IREDA Pradip Kumar Das and CMD, NHPC Limited Abhay Kumar Singh.
CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES
Former Kerala minister and Congress leader Ramachandran passes away
- Senior Congress leader and former state minister KK Ramachandran passed away. He was 84.
About KK Ramachandran :
- Popularly known as KK Ramachandran master.
- He was elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly six times from the Wayanad district. He represented Sulthan Bathery and Kalpetta constituencies.
- He was the Food and Civil Supplies Minister in the AK Antony government and Health Minister in the Oommen Chandy cabinet.
- By profession, he was a teacher and resigned from government service. He was expelled from the party in 2011 after he raised a serious allegation against party leaders in a graft case.
- Later he was taken back to the party but not active in politics.
- He resigned in 2006 and later in 2011, following differences of opinion with the party, he was ousted from the Congress party.
Indian Fashion designer Satya Paul passes away at 79
- Popular fashion designer Satya Paul passed away. He was 79 years old.
- The designer is credited for reinventing sarees in the contemporary Women.
- Paul started his journey in the field of retail in the late 60’s and expanded to exports of Indian handloom products to high-end retail stores in Europe and America.
- In 1980, he launched the first ”saree boutique” in India, L’Affaire,
- He founded the eponymous Indian designer label ‘Satya Paul’ in 1985. The brand, now present across the country, is known for its indigenous prints.
Tamil Writer & Sahitya Akademi winner A. Madhavan Passes away
- Tamil writer A. Madhavan, who won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2015, died . He was 87.
Achievements :
- He served as a member of the expert committee of Kendra Sahitya Akademi and was the founder and president of Thiruvananthapuram Tamil Sangam.
- Madhavan has published over 500 short stories and 150 articles in various Tamil publications.
- He translated into Tamil ‘Sammanam’ by Karoor Neelakanta Pillai, ‘Ini Njan Urangatte’ by P K Balakrishnan and ‘Yakshi’ by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan.
- In 2010, he was awarded the Vishnupuram Award.
- The Tamil Nadu government has honored him with the prestigious Kalaimamani Award.
- His funeral will be held at Thycaud Shanthi Kavadam crematorium.
Veteran Professor Chitra Ghosh & Niece of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose passes away at 90
- Chitra Ghosh, the youngest daughter of Sarat Chandra Bose and niece of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and eminent academician, passed away on January 7, 2021.
- Professor Chitra Ghosh made pioneering contributions to academics and community service.
- She had been the Head of the Department of Political Science at Lady Brabourne College in Kolkata.
- She was also a professor of Social and Political History, at the Netaji Institute for Asian Studies in Kolkata.
- Ghosh authored many books too. These include Mother of my Heart: The Story of Bivabati Bose, Women Movement Politics in Bengal, A Daughter Remembers: Life and Times of Sarat Chandra Bose, and Opening the Closed Windows
Daily CA on Jan 08th
- On January 07, 2021, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa launched Krishi Sanjeevani vans in Bengaluru. This is Mainly for to help farmers in their own backyards.
- Permanent Representative of India at the United Nations Security Council, TS Tirumurti announced, India will be chairing three-key subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
- External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has concluded his three-day visit to Sri Lanka.
- Central govt. has said that over three crore new connections have been provided under Jal Jeevan Mission.
- Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has emphasized that the National Education Policy, NEP-2020, is revolutionary in all aspects.
- Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale has said that the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allocated Rs.69,000 crore for the Post Matric scholarship of SC students for the next five years.
- Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA), the government body set up for cow welfare has announced that it will hold a countrywide online examination on ‘gau vigyan’ (cow science) on February 25.
- The Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways has recently started the operations of the seaplane services, on several routes.
- President-elect Joe Biden confirmed he will nominate Merrick Garland, a centrist judge that Republicans denied a seat on the Supreme Court five years ago to be US attorney general.
- US media reported that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is now world’s wealthiest person.
- Facebook bans Trump ‘indefinitely’, YouTube removes videos from US President’s channel.
- Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has exuded confidence that the Olympic Games will be staged this summer despite a state of emergency in Tokyo following the surge in coronavirus cases.
- Home Minister Amit Shah has hailed the CCEA approval to the Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Development of Jammu and Kashmir.
- In Jammu and Kashmir, LG, Manoj Sinha launched Mobile Application ‘Satark Nagrik’ and Departmental Vigilance Officers Portal of J&K Anti Corruption Bureau at Civil Secretariat, Jammu.
- Telangana has become the 3rd State in the country to successfully undertake Urban Local Bodies, ULB reform stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
- In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced the Government of India’s approval for a mega Industrial Development Package worth Rs.28,400 crore.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced in January, it is now fully operationalizing a College of Supervisors (CoS) to further strengthen supervision over regulated entities.
- The GDP of India is expected to contract by 7.7 percent in 2020-21, the first advance estimate of GDP released by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) on January 07, 2021.
- Punjab National Bank (PNB), the country’s second largest public sector bank, has announced an alliance with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur and FIRST (Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology), to jointly establish the Punjab National Bank – IIT Kanpur Innovation Centre at the IIT campus.
- IDFC Mutual Fund announced the launch of its latest pan-India investor awareness campaign #PaisonKoRokoMat, nudging savers to become investors.
- Hemant Nagrale, director general (legal and technical), has been given additional charge of the director general of police (DGP) of Maharashtra after the incumbent Subodh Kumar Jaiswal was appointed as the head of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
- The Board of Directors of state-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) has re-appointed PK Purwar as Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of the telecom PSU.
- In Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Shailla Cannie, Principal, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi College of Nursing, has been selected for the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award 2020, to be conferred by President of India.
- In Ladakh, Executive Councillor LAHDC Kargil for Agriculture Mohammad Ali Chandan signed a Memorandum of Understanding for organic farming and its certification with Sikkim State Organic Certification Agency.
- Indian Air Force and Institute of Defence Studies and Research – IDSR- an autonomous Institution of Gujarat University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
- In Jammu and Kashmir, the Samagra Shiksha in partnership with Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), has distributed 1.5 lakh soaps to different schools of the Union Territory to support the government’s response to COVID-19.
- On Jan 07, 2021, a book titled ‘India’s 71-Year Test: The Journey to Triumph in Australia’ and one which reflects on India’s previous 12 tours Down Under, was launched.
- Australia’s Claire Polosak is set to become the first female match official in a men’s Test match when she takes up the fourth umpire’s role in the third Test between India and Australia.
- In Kargil Ladakh, Khelo India Ice Hockey Tournament is being organised at Chiktan by Zonal Physical Education Officer Chiktan.
- On Jan 07, 2021, The world’s oldest living first-class cricketer Alan Burgess passed away at the age of 100, the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced.
Daily CA on Jan 09th
- Every year, January 9 is celebrated as the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) to mark the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the development of the nation.
- Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar launched the Government’s Digital Calendar and Diary App in New Delhi.
- The World’s largest repatriation exercise Vande Bharat Mission has brought back more than 7 lakh people since May 2020.
- The National Internet Exchange of India, NIXI has announced that it will offer a free Internationalized Domain Name, IDN in any of the preferred 22 official Indian language along with every IN domain booked by the registrant.
- In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Central govt. has merged J&K cadre for all India Services – IAS, IPS and IFS officers with that of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT), also called the Union Territory cadre, through an ordinance.
- On Jan 08, 2021, The Pakistan Army successfully conducted the test flight of an indigenously developed Guided Multi Launch Rocket System, Fatah-1.
- Emmanuel Bonne, the Diplomatic Advisor to the French President, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed wide-ranging bilateral as well as global issues.
- Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has decided to create a new Bagasara Prant in Amreli district.
- Indian economy to rebound with an9 percent growth in the fiscal year beginning April 2021 after economic activity showed significant improvement in the last quarter, IHS Markit.
- As India prepares for the crucial Union Budget, which would set course for economic pick-up after the Covid carnage, economists have asked the government to be generous with the fiscal measures and have warned of weakness in the financial sector which could be a problem spot in the upcoming financial year.
- Formation of Kerala Bank as a major event in the cooperative sector. “The emergence of a cooperative scheduled bank, currently the second largest in the state, is of immense importance to the development of the state.
- Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ inaugurated the two-day Virtual International Akhand Conference ‘EDUCON 2020’ through video conferencing.
- Indian-American Dr Raj Iyer has taken over as the first Chief Information Officer of the US Army, after the Pentagon created the position in July 2020.
- Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court.
- The Central government has cleared the appointment of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as the next Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court.
- Former DGP of Maharashtra Subodh Kumar Jaiswal has taken over the charge as the new Director General (DG) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
- A general manager at RBI, R Giridharan has authored his debut book ”Right Under our Nose.
- In a historic development, an MoU was signed between the LAHDC Kargil and the Army to evacuate the Kargil Lower Plateau.
- Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited, IREDA under administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NHPC Limited, the PSU under the Ministry of Power for providing its technical expertise in developing renewable energy projects.
- Senior Congress leader and former state minister KK Ramachandran passed away. He was 84.
- Popular fashion designer Satya Paul passed away. He was 79 years old.
- Tamil writer A. Madhavan, who won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2015, died . He was 87.
- Chitra Ghosh, the youngest daughter of Sarat Chandra Bose and niece of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and eminent academician, passed away on January 7, 2021.